Growing Older: Moving to Grandchildren

On By Lois RoelofsIn aging, faith, friends, God, retirement

2016 - iPhone upload - house search 334Yes, you read that right. After eleven years of high-rise living in Chicago’s Loop, my husband and I are moving to a ground-level ranch in Sioux Falls, SD, in an area with lots of grass and evergreens near our little grandchildren.

We’ve just told our family and friends. Responses have at first been shock, then comments similar to: “Of course you’d want to be near your family.” They know my dream was always to live downtown. Well, we’ve done it now, and it’s time to move on. And I’m becoming more aware that other older people are making similar decisions as they decide priorities for final years.

You may recall a few weeks ago I wrote a post On Turning 74 in which I mused about how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I concluded I would trust God. And I did; I stopped obsessing about it, and lo and behold, my husband brought up the idea of moving, and that was that!  We had arrived at the same idea separately, but simultaneously, so surely it was a God thing.

So last week I bought our new home; my husband will see it soon. Meanwhile, we’re doing the paperwork and getting ready to sell our beloved home here in the sky, yet we are so looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. (My husband’s only request for a new home was having a three-stall garage; I bought one with just two stalls, so I have to be on my best behavior for a very long time!)

2016 - iPhone upload - house search 304So, sometime this summer, I will become the title of the magazine I’m holding: Sioux Falls Woman! And since I’ll be leaving my Peets on Michigan Avenue behind, this Scooters may become my new hangout for writing. If you see me here, please say hello!

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy our journey with us; I’ll keep you up-to-date on these pages. Now to start cleaning…

 

 

 

14 thoughts on “Growing Older: Moving to Grandchildren”

  1. Norma Osterhouse

    If anything like our move to live near our child and grandchildren, you will love it. We have so enjoyed our grandchildren. God’s blessings on your move. As we get older we are so thankful that we are living near our children.

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  2. Lois Barliant

    Wonderful post! As I read, I kept seeing Marv’s face as you described your “home” shopping trip and his talking about the two car garage. I know that many of us will have a bit of you here in Chicago as we walk past and through many of the places you have described so well. The children will have you in Sioux Falls–and begin creating a treasure chest of memories to last a lifetime .

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  4. Lois Roelofs

    Amazing how God works, IF WE LET HIM! He’s done that to me, too, once I let Him have the control back 🙂 You ARE getting closer to your roots of MN, and I’ll bet you can have a clothes line to enjoy that clean, fresh air! The Roelofs like BIG toy boxes, but perhaps a 2 stall is a good START 🙂 May God bless you in this process.

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    1. All so true, Lois, except for the clothesline! Don’t think the HOA would allow it. But I say a private two-stall garage is better than our high-rise parking spaces, so It has to be good enough! I appreciate your wish for God’s blessings on our new venture. Since we’ll live closer, maybe we’ll meet each other in person sooner rather than later.

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      1. Lois Roelofs

        THAT would be wonderful! By the way, our nephew and his family live in Sioux Falls!The Christian School their boy plays with just won the boy’s State Championship! They love living there, and I have a feeling you are going to also 🙂

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